Drain trap cleaning device



@L 26, 1948- w. c. GANGLOFF DRAIN TRAP CLEANING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet lFiled April 5, 194e 0d. 2.6, W Q GANGLQFF 2,452,367

DRAIN TRAP CLEANING DEVICE Filed April 5, 1946 2 Sheets-Shea?, 2

Z3 H EATIN G ELEMENT 4 o 50 THERMAL swlTcH TIME www 55 LIGHT PatentedOct. 26, 1948 DRAIN TRAP CLEANING DEVICE.

Wilmer Charles Ganglo, Cincinnati, Ohio, as-

signor to The Drackett Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of OhioApplication April 5, 1946, Serial No. 659,693

(Cl. 21B-38) 12 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in drain traps, for example thetrap conventionally associated with household sink and lavatory outlets,and has for its object the provision of means whereby such traps may beconveniently and effectively freed of obstacles.

It is an old expedient to employ household lyes and other chemicalmixtures in the cleaning of household drains. In general, these mixturesdepend for effectiveness upon partial saponication of the fats andgreases which collect in the drain; in some cases the chemical reactioncauses mechanical scrubbing of the internal pipe surfaces, and thescrubbing action is aided by the evolution of heat resulting from thereaction of the chemicals with water. When properly ernployed, thesemethods are fairly effective, but when employed by persons who are notskilled chemists, injury to the user, to clothing, to iioor coverings,etc., may result. Furthermore, many obstacles cannot be clearedsatisfactorily because the amount of heat developed is insulicient;often the saponifying action is incomplete, insoluble soaps are formedin the course of reaction, excessively high concentrations of alkali areformed, and the reaction may take place principally at the surfacerather than in the area of stoppage.

In recent years, attempts have been made to solve the problem ofclogging drains, and to effect disposal of garbage, by the use ofelectrically powered units which grind the garbage, bones, and otherrefuse and iiush them through the drains with a water stream. Such unitsare quite expensive and frequently develop objectionable odors. Theunits themselves furnish an area in which putreiactive organisms maydevelop rapidly.

In accordance with the present invention it is proposed to associatewith the drain trap an electrical heating device which may beconveniently energized at frequent intervals, for instance once a day,the heating being so distributed over the surface area of the trap as toliquefy the grease which is largely responsible for formation ofobstacles, whereby the obstruction may be readily removed by flushinghot water through the drain. Preferably the heating element isassociated with the entire drain trap, but in the interest of simplicityand economy, heating may be confined to the lower bend of the trap inwhich drainage liquids are constantly present and in which there is thegreatest tendency to form grease deposits. By frequently boiling out thearea in which obstacle material aggregates,

2 sanitation is promoted in that many organisms can be killed 01T.

In the preferred form of my invention, heat is supplied by means of aseparate unit which is readily applicable to existing traps, but theinvention contemplates the provision of traps having the electricalheating element permanently associated therewith, the improved trapbeing employed as a replacement or substitute for existing traps.

It is a feature of my invention that the energization of the trapheating means may be controlled automatically so as to limit theduration of the heating period and to prevent excessive heating. Forinstance, I may associate with the heating circuit a time-controlledswitch which may be manually operated to energize the circuit, and whichis released automatically on the expiration of a predetermined period oftime, signaling means being associated with the circuit to apprise theuser of the termination of the heating period so that the drain may bepromptly flushed to remove the obstruction and the melted grease. I mayalso employ a thermally responsive switch in the heating circuit inorder to prevent damage from overheating and emanation of objectionableodors.

Further objects and features of the invention.

will be apparent from a description of the following drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a side elevation of a drain trap showing one section of aheating jacket applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a view partly in section, taken on the line 2 2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a transverse section of one portion of the heating jacketshown in Figure l;

Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing a modiiicationof the structure illustrated in Figure l; and

Figure 5 is a wiring diagram, illustrating a circuit suitable for thecontrol of the heating element.

In order to facilitate an understanding of the invention, reference ismade herein to the several embodiments illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and specific language is employed to describe the same. Itwill nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the invention isthereby intended, various further alterations and modifications of thedescribed structures being contemplated, such as would occur to thoseskilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring iirst to the form of invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 3,it will be observed that the heating device constitutes a unit forattachment to a standard household S trap Ill of the type employed forthe draining of kitchen sinks. The heating unit is constituted by ajacket l2, which may be formed of electrically insulating material suchas ceramics or appropriate plastics containing asbestos, having imbeddedtherein one or more electrical heating elements I3. The jacket l2 isshaped to conform to the contour of the trap lil and is preferably splitlongitudinally to facilitate application thereof to the trap. In thedrawings it is illustrated as comprising two sections, these sectionsbeing provided at points spaced in the length thereof with cooperatingears or lugs I5 for the reception of bolts by means of which the twosections may be clamped together so as to embrace or encompass the trap,

In the event the jacket l2 is formed of ceramic or appropriate materialor the like, the heating element or elements i3 may be imbedded in thematerial during the molding of the jacket. I prefer, however, to formthe jacket of separate inner and outer sheaths, the outer sheath beingof relatively hard material, such as an appropriate plastic, and theinner sheath being of soft material such as asbestos, the heatingelement being imbedded between the two sheaths. The specic dispositionof the heating element is not critical, but it should be so arranged asto distribute the heat over a substantial area of the trap. The elementneed not extend over or be arranged to heat the entire trap surface; itis of principal importance that the lower bend of the trap, which has ashape described hereinafter as a segment ci an annulus, being U-shapedas viewed in longitudinal section, be supplied with an adequate amountof heat, properly distributed to facilitate the liquefication of greaseat this critical point. Some types of trap, for instance the so-calledrunning trap, obviously require heating only over the trap bend, therebeing little tendency for the grease to settle elsewhere.

In Figures 1 and 2, I have shown the use of a single heating element ineach of the two longitudinal sections of the jacket, the heating elementin each section terminating at one end in a terminal 26 for connectionwith a suitable source of electrical energy, for example theconventional 110 volt supply line, and at the other end in a couplingelement 2| positioned to electrically connect with a correspondingcouplingelement on the opposing section, the arrangement beingpreferably such that the coupling elements 2l are intimately contactedwhen the two sections are clamped in position on the drain trap. The twoterminals may extend outwardly of the respective jacket sections and arepositioned in adjacent relation for engagement by a conventional femaleconnector, whereby the unit is supplied with current from the source.

Various tests have demonstrated the eiciency of the invention in theclearing of seriously blocked traps. For example, a glass S trap,permitting visual observation of the operation, having an insidediameter of approximately 1% inches, was wrapped with resistance wire atthe lower bend, the wire extending up each side of the trap about 2inches, the volume of the trap being 33e ml. Two plugs formed byimpregnating cotton with a standard fat mix consisting principally ofbeef tallow and fat drippings were inserted in the trap, one plug beingplaced near the bottom of the trap on the sink side and the other nearthe top of the trap near the overnow, Additional fat mix was poured inthe trap until it was approximately 2 inches thick; the trap was almostfull of water between the plugs, and the sink connection was full.

Current was then passed through the heating element and in about twominutes it was observed that both plugs were melted and loosened. BYpouring water in the top of the trap, the plugs were forced out,

In another test, the same trap was blocked with a plug consisting of thefat mixture and including also strips of birds-eye cloth and hard soapmade by treating sodium stearate with calcium and magnesium chlorides.Current was applied to the heating element for a short time to melt themixture to a solid mass, which was then allowed to set for several days.The current was then again applied to the heating element, and withintwo minutes the plug softened suiciently to permit the water above it tochannel through.

After two more minutes of heating, the plug was washed from the trap bypouring in hot water.

In conducting the test just described, employing a line voltage ofvolts, the heating element consumed 0.6 kilowatt in the four-minuteoperation. Thus the power consumed in freeing the drain wasapproximately .04 kilowatt hour.

Various other tests, conducted in an effort to demonstrate thesurprising eiiciency of the device under conditions simulating thosenormally encountered in the household, were` conducted with the use ofdiierent blocking mixtures. As an example, one of the mixtures employedwas the following:

Percent Human hair 1.35 Fat drippings 15.60 Beef tallow 75.00 fI-IyoSuper Cel 2.20 Coee grounds 1.35 Tea leaves 1.35 Powdered soap 1.35Epsom salt 1.35

. Ground soybean meal .45

All such mixtures were promptly and effectively removed by flushingafter a brief heating period.

In Figure fi is illustrated an embodiment of the v invention in whichthe heating element is embedded in the drain trap, it being observedthat this is to all intents and purposes a full equivalent of theseparately applied jacket hereinbefore described. In this gure, the trapshown is of the rrunning type, comprising a segmental annulus or bendportion 25 which is interposed in a substantially horizontal drain line26, but such a trap l may obviously be otherwise shaped, for instance toconform to the usual S trap employed with household sinks, as in Figures1 and 2. The trap may be composed of electrical insulating material, forinstance of appropriate ceramic or molded plastic, the heating element28 being imbedded in the material during molding, andbeing provided withconventional terminals 29 whereby the element may be connected to a'source of supply, such as the usual service main.

It is proposed to employ, in either of the embodiments of lthe inventionhereinbefore specically described, a device for opening the heatingcircuit whenever the temperature exceeds a predetermined value. It isalso desirable, as hereinbefore pointed out, to provide atime-controlled switch, whereby the duration of .the heating period will`be automatically limited.V A circuit embodying both these features isshown in Figure 5, in which the heating element is indicated at I3, andthe leads to the supply line are shown at 32. A thermally actuatedswitch 33 is arranged in series in the heating circuit and may comprisethe conventional bimetallic element whi-ch is positioned to absorb heatemanating from some portion of the heating element. The bimetallicelement is so adjusted that the heating circuit remains closed until thetemperature exceeds a predetermined level, at which time the circuit isopened to momentarily open up the ow of heat to the trap.

A time-controlled switch 35 is also positioned in series in the heatingcircuit. Preferably this switch is of a known type adapted to bemanually closed, and having incorporated therewith timing mechanism foropening the switch on the expiration of a predetermined period of time,say six to eight minutes. If desired, an indicating device, such as alight bulb 35, is arranged in the circuit so as to be energized onlywhile the switch 35 is closed. in order that the termination of theheating period may be called to the attention of the user. Thus when thesignal light 33 is extinguished, as the result of the opening of thetime switch, the user may flush the trap with het water, thereby washingaway any obstruction, and clear ing the trap of the liqueed greasymaterial.

Observation has shown that by the periodical use of a heating device ofthis character, for instance daily or weekly operation thereof, drainsmay be maintained continually in a free and sanitary condition. Theinvention is especially useful in conjunction with garbage disposalequipment which, as hereinbefore indicated, offers serious problems asthe result of the substantial amount of grease and solid material whichmust be passed through the drain trap.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A plumbingT drain trap having an electrical heating element embeddedin the lower bend thereof, said heating element being so disposed as toeffect distribution of heat over a substantial portion of the area ofsaid bend, said element having terminals for connection to a source ofelectrical energy.

2. A plumbing drain trap including a portion formed of electricallyinsulating material having an electrical heating element embeddedtherein, said portion dening the lower bend of the trap, said heatingelement being so disposed as to effect distribution oi heat over asubstantial portion of the area of said bend, said element havingterminals for connection to a source of electrical energy,

3. A plumbing drain trap having an electrical heating element associatedtherewith, said heating element being so disposed as to effectdistribution of heat over a substantial portion of the area of said trapto melt solidified grease adhering to the inner surf-ace of the trap,said element having terminals for connection to a source oi" electricalenergy.

4. A plumbing drain trap having an electrical heating element associatedtherewith, said heating element being so disposed as to effectdistribution of heat over a substantial portion of the area of said trapto melt solidified grease adhering to the inner surface of the trap,said element having terminals for connection to a source of electricalenergy, said trap including an inner metallic wall, and an outerremovable insulating jacket, said element being embedded in said jacket.

5. A plumbing drain trap having an electrical heating element associatedtherewith, said heating element being so disposed as to effectdistribution of hea-t over a substantial portion of the area of saidtrap to melt solidified grease adhering to the inner surface of thetrap, said element hav ing terminals for connection to a source ofelectrical energy, said trap .being formed as a molded unit having saidelement embedded therein.

6. A device for cleaning plumbing drain traps comprising a jacket havinga portion shaped to conform generally to a segment of an annulus anddimensioned to embrace the lower bend of a trap, and electrical heatingmeans so embedded in said jacket as to provide a distributed heatingzone for heating said trap bend, said heating means having terminals forconnection to a source of electrical energy.

'7. A device for cleaning plumbing drain traps comprising a jackethaving a portion shaped to conform generally to a segment of `an annulusand dimensioned to embrace the lower bend of a trap, said jacket beingsplit in the direction of its length to permit application thereof tothe trap.

8. A device for cleaning plumbing drain traps comprising a jacket havinga portion shaped to conform generally to a segment of an annulus anddimensioned to embrace the lower .bend 0f a trap, electrical heatingmeans so embedded in said jacket as to provide a distributed heatingzone for heating said trap bend, said heating means having `terminalsfor connection to a source of electrical energy, and a time controlledswitch interposed between said heating means and said source, wherebythe duration of the heating period may be predetermined.

9. A device for cleaning plumbing drain traps comprising a jacket havinga porti-on shaped to conform generally to a segment of an annulus anddimensioned to embrace the lower bend of a trap, electrical hea-tingmeans so embedded in said jacket as to provide a distributed heatingzone for 0 heating said trap bend, said heating means having terminalsfor connection to a source of electrical energy, and a thermalresponsive switch arrranged in series with said heating means to renderthe latter inoperative whenever a predetermined temperature is exceeded.

10. A plumbing drain trap having an electrical heating elementassociated with the lower bend thereof, said heating elemen-t being sodisposed as to effect distribution of heat over a substantial portion ofthe area of said bend, said element having terminals for connection `toa source of electrical energy.

ll. A plumbing drain trap having an electrical heating elementassociated with the lower bend thereof, said heating element being sodisposed as to elect distribution of heat over a substantial portion ofthe area of said bend, said element having terminals for connection to asource of electrical energy, and a time controlled switch interposedbetween said heating element and said source, whereby the duration ofthe heating period may be predetermined.

12. A plumbing drain trap having an electrical heating elementassociated with the lower bend thereof, said heating element being sodisposed as to eifect distribution or" heat over a substantial portionof ythe area Iof said bend, said element having terminals for connectionto source of electrical energy, and a thermal responsive switch arranged"7 8 e in series With said hea-ting element to render the UNITED STATESPATENTS latter inoperative Whenever a predetermined tem- Number NameDate Perawre is @Needed 1,105,795 Johnswn Aug. 4, 1914 1,312,554 LoganAug. 12, 1919 WILMER CHARLES GANGLOFF- 5 1,706,997 Daw/11,11. Mar. 26,1929 1,809,714 Mathews June 9, 1931 f REFERENCES CITED 1,936,391Harrower Nov. 21, 1933 The following references are of record in the2,111,251 Spilsbury Mar. 15, 1938 le of this patent: 2,194,490 ZimmermanMar. 26, 1940

